Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson bet on himself coming into the 2022 season and on Sunday that wager may have went up in smoke.
Lamar Jackson Injured
The star signal -caller was injured during the team’s ugly 10-9 win over the hapless Broncos. Following the game, Ravens head coach updated reporters on the severity of Jackson’s injury.
“It’s going to be a number of days to weeks. We’ll see. We’ll see if he can go back this week. If not, it’ll be sometime after that shortly.”
Jackson walked to the locker room under his own power but in visible pain, revealing somewhat the extent of the injury.
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Jackson Bet On Himself This Season
After not receiving a contract offer to his liking during the offseason, Jackson came into 2022 betting on himself. His decision perplexed many of the football insiders because he turned down reportedly over $150 million in guaranteed money.
Sort of like what his predecessor Joe Flacco did in 2012. Flacco lead the team to the Super Bowl while being named the game’s MVP, basically writing his own check. That was a fairytale ending for Flacco, who was not the most important player on his team and didn’t carry the burden that Jackson does now. Everything worked out.
Jackson Can’t Get Paid If He Can’t Stay Healthy
If that was Jackson’s intention, he’s going to have to get healthy and play much better than he has.
The 2019 NFL MVP — only the second unanimous MVP in league history — is in the fifth and final year of his rookie deal, and the expectancy was he’d sign a long-term extension, but when the Ravens reportedly refused to make it all guaranteed, contract talks stalled.
Jackson Risked Massive Contract To Bet On Himself
This is the risk Jackson took by not signing the extension in the offseason.
Getting injured does nothing but hurt his chances at that type of lucrative deal going forward. It also confirms the doubts that Raves had with giving him all of the money guaranteed. For one, general managers don’t hand out those type of fully guaranteed deals. The one Cleveland gave Deshaun Watson is probably the only one we’ll see of that amount in league history.
Also, Jackson’s style of play has proved to make him prone to constant minor injuries.
Jackson missed the team’s final five games last season due to an injury, and the Ravens went from 8-3 to 8-9 and out of the playoff picture.
Lamar Jackson betting on himself this season… and it's paying off so far pic.twitter.com/BUMLopt82v
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 26, 2022
Tyler Huntley Stepped In And Led Team To Win
When Jackson was injured, the Ravens trailed 9-3. A 91-yard drive capped by a 2-yard quarterback keeper by backup Tyler Huntley with 28 seconds left was the deciding score.
While Baltimore didn’t get a win last year with Huntley in relief of Jackson, the former Utah Utes star played well in his absence. That was no different on Sunday, as he made timely runs and throws, including going 8-for-8 on the final drive to help Baltimore stay atop the AFC North division.
Teammates raved about Huntley’s readiness and character. All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews told reporters this.
“He just has so much confidence. You see the way he plays. Things weren’t perfect, but for him to be able to come in — especially that late drive — and do what he did and have the composure that he had just shows you how good he really is, how much he’s learned. I’m thinking about Lamar, but you have to tip your hat to Snoop Huntley and just how well he played. It’s impressive football.”
Prayers up for Lamar Jackson
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) December 4, 2022
The team will rally around Huntley, but if they have hopes of a real playoff run, they’ll need the former Heisman winner healthy and whole.
And Lamar’s recent rash of nicks and bruises certainly doesn’t strengthen his position that he should receive an historic fully guaranteed deal. Right now it looks like Jackson should have taken the money and run with it.
